The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing some of their best baseball, winning five straight games, including the first three of a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
They now go for the sweep over their division rivals, and send Tony Gonsolin to the mound to do so. Gonsolin has been outstanding for L.A. all season, going 1-1 with a 1.51 ERA, 2.82 FIP and 0.79 WHIP with 30 strikeouts and six walks in 35.2 innings across seven games (six starts).
The young right-hander has faced the Rockies twice in his career, yielding a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings. Included in that was a start at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 5, when he tossed six innings, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Opposing Gonsolin is right-hander Antonio Senzatela, who has been the Rockies’ best starter this season. In 10 starts, Senzatela is 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA, 4.41 FIP and 1.15 WHIP with 36 strikeouts and 12 walks in 62.2 innings.
He hasn’t fared well in nine career games (seven starts) against the Dodgers, going 2-3 with a 6.50 ERA and 1.75 WHIP. Senzatela went 5.1 innings in both of his starts in L.A. this season, giving up six runs on Aug. 23 and two runs on Sept. 4.
AJ Pollock has worn out Senzatela in his career, going 7-for-13 (.538 batting average) with a home run against them. Pollock is leading off due to Mookie Betts being given a day for rest.
Corey Seager has also taken Senzatela deep twice, and overall is 5-for-12 (.417 batting average). Luckily for Senzatela, he doesn’t have the challenge of slowing down Chris Taylor, who is one of the hottest hitters in baseball as too is getting a day off.
In his last 14 games, Taylor is batting .345/.419/.727 with five home runs and 17 RBI. He had a home run and a two-run triple in Saturday night’s win.
Zach McKnistry is getting his first career Major League start, playing right field and batting ninth.
Going into Sunday’s game, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the National League West is just two. That means that they have the ability to clinch the division with a win and a San Diego Padres loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Dodgers lineup
LF: AJ Pollock
SS: Corey Seager
DH: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
3B: Edwin Rios
2B: Gavin Lux
RF: Zach McKinstry
Rockies lineup
RF: Raimel Tapia
DH: Kevin Pillar
RF: Charlie Blackmon
SS: Trevor Story
1B: Josh Fuentes
CF: David Dahl
C: Elias Diaz
3B: Ryan McMahon
2B: Garrett Hampson
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